KNITTED COMPONENT COMPRISING A WINDOW

• US 20200131677A1
• Filed: 10/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Aceves Tinajero, Juan L., Matteo, Nicolino, Line, Ashleigh S.
• Granted Patent: US 12,012,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/102 with stitch pattern D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/12 characterised by thread material
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/08 characterised by thread material
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/041 thermoplastic; thermosetting
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a knitted component having a first yarn and a second yarn, where the first yarn comprises a thermoplastic material having a melting temperature. The knitted component includes window regions substantially or exclusively formed of the first yarn, such that melting the first yarn in these window regions form at least a semi-transparent window allowing a viewer to see through the knitted component.

Claims

1. A knitted component comprising:

a first yarn comprising a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature; and

a second yarn having a second melting temperature higher than the first melting temperature;

a first region comprising the first yarn and the second yarn, wherein the first region comprises a greater percentage by unit area of the second yarn than the first yarn;

a window region formed substantially of the first yarn;

wherein the first region at least partially surrounds the window region; and

a transition region located between the first region and the window region, and wherein in the transition region, the second yarn from the first region extends to the window region and terminates at or before the window region.

2. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the first melting temperature is less than 200 degrees Celsius, and wherein the second yarn comprises a polyester material having a second melting temperature greater than the first melting temperature.

3. The knitted component of claim 2, wherein the first melting temperature is between about 100 and about 150 degrees Celsius.

4. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the transition region includes a knitted course where the second yarn transitions to the first yarn.

5. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the second yarn is a polyester yarn.

6. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the second yarn is a non-plastic yarn.

7. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the window region is exclusively formed of the first yarn.

8. A textile comprising:

a first thermoplastic material; and

a second yarn;

a first region comprising the first thermoplastic material and the second yarn, wherein the first thermoplastic material is at least partially fused to one or more knit loops of the second yarn;

a window formed substantially of the first thermoplastic material, wherein the window is at least semi-transparent; and

a transition region formed of the first thermoplastic material and the second yarn, the transition region being located between the first region and the window, wherein the second yarn from the first region extends through the transition region towards the window.

9. The textile of claim 8 wherein the window is formed exclusively of the first thermoplastic material.

10. The textile of claim 8 wherein the first region at least partially surrounds the window.

11. The textile of claim 8 wherein one or more knit loops of the second yarn substantially maintain their knit loop structure in transition region.

12. The textile of claim 8, wherein knit loops of the second yarn are visually distinguishable from the first thermoplastic material in at least the transition region.

13. A method of forming a textile comprising:

knitting a first region comprising a first yarn and a second yarn, wherein the first yarn comprises a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and the second yarn has a second melting temperature higher than the first melting temperature and wherein the first region comprises a greater percentage by unit area of the second yarn than the first yarn;

knitting a window region exclusively formed of the first yarn and wherein the first region at least partially surrounds the window region;

knitting a transition region located between the first region and the window region, and wherein in the transition region, the second yarn from the first region terminates at or before the window region; and

heating the textile to at least the first melting temperature to at least partially melt the first yarn.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first melting temperature is less than 200 degrees Celsius.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first melting temperature is between 100 and 150 degrees Celsius.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second yarn is a polyester yarn.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second yarn is a non-plastic yarn.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising knitting a second region substantially formed of the second yarn.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising knitting a second region exclusively formed of the second yarn.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein heating the textile comprises applying heat to at least a first surface of the textile.